Forgiveness

Pt. Dave Kenney

Matthew 18 : 21-35 (NIV)


Def. of Grace : unmerit favor that God pour into us.
We want to be forgiven, that's why we are here.

1: (Bhristian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who under such divine influence; "the conception of grace developed alongside the conception of sin"; "it was debated whether saving grace could be obtained outside the membership of the church"; "the Virgin lived in a state of grace" [syn: {saving grace}, {state of grace}]

2: elegance and beauty of movement or expression [syn: {gracility}]

3: a sense of propriety and consideration for others [syn: {seemliness}] [ant: {unseemliness}]

4: a disposition to kindness and compassion; benign good will; "the victor's grace in treating the vanquished" [syn: {good will}, {goodwill}]

5: (Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors

6: a short prayer of thanks before a meal [syn: {blessing}, {thanksgiving}]

7: (Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God; "God's grace is manifested in the salvation of sinners"; "there but for the grace of God go I" [syn: {grace of God}, {free grace}]

FORGIVENESS

Why did Jesus say you won't be forgiven?

Critical issues :

Unlimited Forgiveness

Forgiveness that never runs out, no matter how many many events.
Sometimes we need to forgive someone because of they over and over again for many sins.
Many times we need to forgive someone over again for only one sin.

Amazingly about the Lord is, He is able to forgive us when He knew that we know we sinned. And this is what He also required from us.

Unbalanced debt

1 denarii = 1 day $ wages
1 talent =

God created everything for us so that we canlove Him, but we rejected Him, we sinned against Him.
When we sinned against God, what are we going to do to pay Him back with?
When we sinned against God, it's impossible for us to pay it back. Only Jesus can.
Every little sceme sin that we've done, Jesus had paid it back regardless what others had done to us. It doesn't compare to whatever God has done to us.

Unmovable justice

justice is corded meassured up with God's character, not the other way around.
God is a forgive GOd,but He can't make us like Him unless we don't want to be like Him.

Our God, who is perfect, forgives perfectly. We as His children forgive imperfectly, but are not allowed to refuse to forgive. It doesn't go along together.

Two types of forgiveness:

• the seaker of forgiveness
• the giver of forgiveness.

when we forgive someone, we need to treat them as if that person has not sinned.
You don't let yourself to be abused by forgiveness, but you need to forgive.

The obeject lesson of forgiveness : The Lord's Table

God forgive you for what she has done, cause she knows what she has don't ___
that mercy that we had, if we don't apply to others means, we choose not to be like Christ.

IES Family Values and the Road Ahead

Pt. Dave Kenney

You don't live for the short term, mid term, or long term..
you live for the eternity!

IES Family Values:

1. We don't care where you have been, we only care where you are going.

Romans 15:7
God's praised in an acceptance of someone, and more praised for the nonacceptance.

Galatians 3:26-28 (NLT)
Matthew 9:9-13 (NLT)

2. People over Programs

People
-------
Program

3. Everyone a minister
You will never grow in your spiritual walk, if you don't give back, or find a place to minister.
Eph. 4:11-13

4. God's Word changes lives.
Rom 1:16-17
we believe God's word changes lives.
1 Cor 6:9-11

5. Serious about our faith, serious about our fun, serious about our food.
Philippians 4:4
Psalm 122:1
God commands to be joyful.


Road?

1. We don't care where you have been, we only care where you are going.

Accept everyone as they are.
Leave no one where they are

EVERY SIN is wrong.
but no one isn't allowed to throw the stone back to the sinners.

2. People over programs

3. Everyone a minister

4. God's Word changes lives.
A farmer doesn't measure harvest by how many % he has already in the barn, but by how many % is still left outside.
Same with the church.
Church are not allowed to measure how many % people is already inside, but how many % still left outside.

5. Serious about our faith, serious about our fun, serious about our food.

The Jesus You Need

Pt. Lew Belcourt
Exodus 3:1-14

v.14 "I AM WHO I AM".. =YHWH

I. THE UNSPEAKABLE NAME OF GOD - YHWH
This name never been used as a name. They usually don't pronounce God's name, and refer it to : Lord or Adonai.

II. THE REVELATION OF GOD IN JESUS -[New Testament]

Why do you come to church?
at one point, you have a need that you need to cry to God. Whether it's a week ago, 20 years ago, 50 years ago, etc.
You come to church not because of it's obligated, but it's a relationship.

III. THE DIVINE NATURE OF JESUS

I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
Provision for the physical and spiritual needs.
Miraculous feeding of 5000 people. Jesus care. He will never stay you in a dessert at the end of the day and let you hungry. Church should do the same for everyone in need.

I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12)
Forgiveness for Sins.
A trap set up by the crowd for Jesus.
"Neither do I"
"I am a Light of the World"
everyone struggle in daily sin basis.

I AM The Door (John 10:9)
Jesus gives us peace and security.
We tend to provide our own peace and security.

I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
Jesus is our Protector who searches for us - not just from the attacker, but also when we are lost, He will come and seek for us.

I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
Jesus gives us hope in desperate times.
The Israel belief that the soul of the dead remains wondering in 3 days.
Jesus came on the 4th days for Lazarus, to show that even Lazarus has been declared "done dead" by the community, HE can wake him up!

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)
Jesus gives us certainty in our faith.
Our faith is in Jesus.
He gives us certainty if we have challenge.

I AM the True Vine (John 15:1)
Jesus challenges us to bear fruit, and binds us together in the fellowship of believers.
Jesus didn't leave us to face this struggle alone. We are the member of the THAT vine.

IV. APPLICATION/CLOSING PRAYER

Who is the Jesus that you need?

• Provision
• Forgiveness
• Peace and Security
• Protector
• Hope
• Certainty
• Fellowship

Presentation Weekend

Pt. Dave Kenney
1 Samuel 1:1-20

1. The Big Picture

Israel has Judges
God sends "judges" (leaders) in answer to prayers of Israel during crisis, brought about by apostasy and invasion of enemies.

Israel has Kings
in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, God told Israel what kind of kings they should choose and what the kings should do, but they don't obey God. Most of their kings failed God and Israel.

Samuel is THE transition.

The story here, is about God and God's plan. Has nothing to do with us. Our part is just to obey.

2. Hannah's story and her role in God's plan.

a. Hannah's Problem (1 Samuel 1:1-8)

Don't misunderstand about this story. The passage says that God has closed her womb. That does not mean every woman who has not conceived has had her "womb closed" by God. In this case, God has delayed giving her a child to fulfill His purpose -timing issue, of placing the child Samuel in the place of worship.

She is in need - life is difficult for her, husband took another wife. Polygamy is not a common thing in Israel. Only for the people with substance : kings, leader of a group, etc.

She is bitter - she has the right to be bitter, got a rival who keeps on provoking her.

She is depressed - doesn't even recognize all other things that God has blessed her.

Her husband is no help - dough! typical male respond.

b. Hannah's Prayer (1 Sam 1:9-19a)

She took her problem to God - v.11-14 People don't usually pray in silence or reading in silence. It was uncommon those days.

Prayer caused her to reorder her priorities - first, her focus was to have a son for HER. Now, the son she wants, is FOR God. A son to be used by God.

God used someone else to bring His answer - God used Eli, and Hannah directly understand that her prayers were already answered. Hannah is willing to be prayed by others, even Eli, who has a not so good background.
The importance of being prayed by just ANY KIND of people, coz God can just use ANYONE. It may be not because He wants to answer your prayers, it maybe only because He wants to used the other person. So it's not always about you!! Look @ a bigger picture..

c. Hannah' Praise (1 Sam 2:1-11)

First, she rejoiced in the personal deliverance from a life of misery which she had recently experienced (2:1)

Second, Hannah rejoiced in the person God - his holiness, his strength, and his knowledge (2:2-3)

Third, she rejoiced in the government of God (2:4-8). Hannah pointed out that often those who are rich, powerful and blessed are humbled. At the same time those who are poor, weak and dishonorable are suddenly exalted.

Fourth, Hannah rejoiced in her hope (2:9-10). The righteous are under the watch care of God; the wicked, however, are swallowed up in darkness when God withdraws the light of His grace.

At this point Hannah's poem becomes predictive. She announces that ultimately God would (1) judge the whole world, (2) give strength to his king, and (3) exalt the horn or power of his anointed. The context here of universal judgement suggests that the prophecy points to the Coming One, the Messiah.

Personal application. The most difficult situation can be transformed by bringing it to the Lord in prayer.

Hannah's Praise

1 Then Hannah prayed:

"My heart rejoices in the LORD!
The LORD has made me strong
Now I have an answer for my enemies;
I rejoice because you rescued me.
No one is holy like the Lord!
There is no one besides you,
there is no Rock like our God.

Stop acting so proud and haughty!
Don't speak with such arrogance!
For the LORD is a GOD who knows what you have done;
he will judge your actions.
The bow of the mighty is now broken,
and those who stumbled are now strong.
Those who were well fed are now starving,
and those who were starving are now full.
The childless woman now has seven children,
and the woman with many children wastes away.
The LORD gives both death and life;
he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.
The LORD makes some poor and others rich;
he brings some down and lifts others up.
He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
placing them in seats of honor.
For all the earth in the LORD's
and he has set the world in order.

"He will protect his faithful ones,
but the wicked will disappear in darkness.
No one will succeed by strength alone.
Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
the LORD judges throughout the earth.
He gives power to his king;
he increases the strength of his anointed one."

Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the LORD by assisting Eli the priest. 1 Samuel 2:1-11 (NLT)